5 NBA Trades

By Anthony Peretore

As we head into the month of February, one thing will be constantly brewing in our collective minds: the NBA trade deadline. A flurry of transactions will highlight the next 3+ weeks, with teams either giving up on their 2004-05 seasons or making moves to improve their standing for the playoffs. While I have no access to GM’s phone numbers nor do I choose to make up ridiculous trade rumors, I will simply provide you with five trades that I believe make a ton of sense for both teams involved. Here goes…

It’s been no secret that Gary Payton wants to be shipped to a Western Conference team. It now seems inevitable that his wish will be granted with his mother becoming extremely ill in California. Dallas is one of those teams on the brink of being a legit contender in the West, but there’s no way that Terry’s the PG to get them there. They need experience and leadership, two characteristics that GP has plenty of. The Celtics on the other hand, hopefully have their PG of the future in either Marcus Banks or Delonte West. However, neither is ready to take complete control and give the team 30-35 minutes per night. So, why not bring in Terry for the rest of this season (and possibly next) and see which of the three emerges as the best option for the future? This way here the Celts are guaranteed a legit PG for the next several years rather than being left filling GP’s void at the end of the year. Dallas also frees up cap space for next season with both Payton and Googs’ contracts coming off the books.

Now, on paper this may seem a bit lop-sided for the Raptors. However, 1) Marshall and Palacio both come off the books at the end of the season, freeing up over $5 million in cap space to help re-sign Larry Hughes. 2) The Wizards get a quality ‘4’ in DM allowing Antawn Jamison to go back to playing his natural ‘3’ position and they can replace the erratic Jared Jeffries in the starting 5. 3) The first-round pick should be in the lottery, giving the team back a top-14 pick they lost to Dallas last season. 4) The Wiz get rid of Kwame who has turned into more of a burden then an asset. 5) Washington also gets a true point guard to back up Gilbert Arenas so he is not forced to play 38-40 minutes a night.

For Toronto, they not only get a young center to play alongside Chris Bosh for the next 10 seasons or so, but they also get a budding star in Dixon. A core of Rafer Alston, Dixon, Brown and Bosh should give people in Canada something to look forward to.

Well, we all know the T’Wolves have to do something, so why not go all out and grab Kidd? There’s no telling how good KG and Kidd could be. That’s a team that could legitimately defeat the Spurs if Zerb can fill the void of Spree. On the other hand, the Nets get Sprewell’s expiring contract, freeing up over $14 million in cap space for this summer. Also, they get Cassell to play the point for another year and a half as they breed someone else (draft pick) along. The throw in is the promising 20 year-old Ebi, a first round pick two years ago. With Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson as the core of this team’s future, NJ will no doubt be an enticing place to play for a free agent big man (Tyson Chandler, Stro Swift, Shareef Abdur-Rahim?).

4. L.A. Clippers Receive:PG Damon Stoudamire2nd Round Pick

Portland Trailblazers Receive:SG Kerry KittlesC Zelijko Rebracca

We have all heard the rumors of a possible Baron Davis to the Clips trade, but that really makes no sense for this team. Shaun Livingston promises to be the next great point guard in the NBA and blocking his path to stardom is just foolish. With Stoudamire they get a veteran with playoff experience, leadership ability and most importantly, an expiring contract. With “Mighty Mouse,” the Clips could most certainly sneak into the playoffs without hurting Livingston’s learning process along the way. Portland gets Kittles’ expiring contract as well as the promising Rebracca. Big Z had 19 and 16 the other night in just 30 minutes. With Theo Ratliff battling injuries all season and Joel Przybilla well, Joel Przybilla, the Blazers get a quality young center that won’t be running from the law.

5. Philadelphia 76ers Receive:F Antoine Walker

Atlanta Hawks Receive:C Samuel DalembertF Glenn Robinson

It makes sense for the Hawks to get rid of Walker as all he is doing is impeding the growth of players like Josh Childress and Josh Smith. Jim O’Brien gets back his former captain from Boston and a scorer to help shoulder Allen Iverson’s load. Philly needs a player with playoff experience, mental toughness and leadership ability and Walker fills all those traits. In return, the Hawks get their big man of the future in Dalembert as well as the “Big Dog’s” expiring contract. While they won’t save as much money as they would if Walker stayed, nabbing Dalembert is most definitely worth it. A future with Sammie, Childress, Smith and Al Harrington looks bright.